Odd rear end noise

phat46 · September 24, 2015, 08:23:43 PM

I have a bad sound coming from the rear end in my '02 Dodge Ram 1500. Never heard a rear ended make this noise, it's most closely described as a roar, but not really. It makes the noise on deceleration only, and stops if you give it even the least amount of throttle, not even enough to change vehicle speed. Now the weird part...it goes away, it might do it for half an hour straight then just go away, for days, then suddenly one day it's back, only to go away after a while. I had my mechanic ( my nephew) ride with me and of coarse it went away after two minutes. He thought it could be brakes, I took the rear disks off and checked, everything is o.k. In there. He actually replaced them this summer. I have never heard a rear make this noise, and it's LOUD, then just completely disappear. I changed the fluid, including the additive for the limited slip last year, and it's still full. Any ideas?

chimp koose · September 25, 2015, 02:00:16 AM

something to do with the pinion gear I am guessing ? while driving it loads the bearing , pinion being pushed towards the front and while coasting it has slack ?

Arnold · September 25, 2015, 11:12:16 AM

Quote from: "phat46"I have a bad sound coming from the rear end in my '02 Dodge Ram 1500. Never heard a rear ended make this noise, it's most closely described as a roar, but not really. It makes the noise on deceleration only, and stops if you give it even the least amount of throttle, not even enough to change vehicle speed. Now the weird part...it goes away, it might do it for half an hour straight then just go away, for days, then suddenly one day it's back, only to go away after a while. I had my mechanic ( my nephew) ride with me and of coarse it went away after two minutes. He thought it could be brakes, I took the rear disks off and checked, everything is o.k. In there. He actually replaced them this summer. I have never heard a rear make this noise, and it's LOUD, then just completely disappear. I changed the fluid, including the additive for the limited slip last year, and it's still full. Any ideas?

I think it might be some kind of vibration..amplified. I had a baffle go inside a muffler..similar noise. Any way you can try this with the engine off safely?

Inprimer · September 28, 2015, 01:39:27 PM

Quote from: "chimp koose"something to do with the pinion gear I am guessing ? while driving it loads the bearing , pinion being pushed towards the front and while coasting it has slack ?

had same problem with my 8"" Ford, slop in the pinion gear when de accelerating sounded like a "groan" adding power sound went away

Rrumbler · September 29, 2015, 08:10:53 PM

Loose pinion nut. When accelerating, the pinion gear moves out, away from the carrier, on the gear teeth; when you let off the gas, the pinion is drawn back by the gear teeth and the pinion teeth rub on the carrier housing causing the rumble or growl. Tighten up the pinion nut, at the least; you may have to re - set the pinion depth and the gear mesh.

phat46 · October 05, 2015, 05:08:59 PM

Just a follow up, it was, as thought, a loose pinion nut. I feel very lucky, the pinion nut was finger tight! We have it reinstalled and torqued.

chimp koose · October 05, 2015, 11:52:08 PM

thanks for the update.

chimp koose · October 05, 2015, 11:53:35 PM

I now have an odd rear end noise ... just when you pull my finger !!!

bucketmouth · October 06, 2015, 12:10:58 PM

That was lucky only a loose nut.If only all noises were that easy to fix.